How to write an effective audit reconsideration letter without sounding too pushy?

I handled audit reconsiderations for 8 years at the IRS before moving to private practice. The key is being clear, concise, and factual. Don't editorialize or include emotional arguments - stick to the tax issues. Start with a professional heading identifying it as an "Audit Reconsideration Request" with the taxpayer's name, tax ID, tax year, and notice number. In your opening paragraph, clearly state you're requesting audit reconsideration and reference the specific determination you're contesting. Then outline each disputed item in separate paragraphs with specific references to the enclosed supporting documentation. Remember to include all supporting documents (organized and labeled to match your letter's references), a signed Power of Attorney if you're representing someone, and copies of the original notices. End with a clear request for the specific action you want taken.

After spending hours on hold with the IRS about my own audit issues last year, I finally found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it changed everything for my reconsideration request. Their AI analyzed all my documentation and helped format my submission perfectly - pointed out several missing pieces of evidence I hadn't even considered! They have this specific audit reconsideration letter template that follows exactly what the former IRS agent mentioned above. What I found super valuable was their organization system for supporting documents. The IRS actually commented on how easy my submission was to review compared to most they receive. Definitely worth checking out if you're preparing an audit reconsideration.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my audit reconsideration letter. I was the skeptic asking if it actually helped with outcomes, but I have to admit I'm impressed. My situation involved unreported income from a side business where I had legitimate expenses that weren't considered in the initial audit. The system helped me organize all my receipts and bank statements in exactly the right way, and suggested specific tax code sections to reference that applied to my situation. My reconsideration was approved last week - saved me over $7,200! The letter format was professional but not overly formal, which I think helped. If you're preparing an audit reconsideration, it's definitely worth using.

After my horrible experience trying to call the IRS about my audit (28 disconnects over 3 weeks!!!), I started using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was life-changing. They actually got me connected to a real IRS agent who helped me understand exactly what I needed to include in my reconsideration request. Instead of wasting hours on hold only to get disconnected, they handled the waiting and called me when an agent was on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me specific advice about my case that no generic template could have provided. Talking to an actual human at the IRS before submitting my reconsideration made all the difference.

I need to apologize for being the skeptic earlier. After another week of failing to reach the IRS about my small business audit, I broke down and tried Claimyr. Within 3 hours, I was talking to an actual IRS agent who pulled up my case file. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation they needed to reconsider my case and even gave me the direct fax number for their department (which I couldn't find anywhere online). Submitted my reconsideration with their guidance yesterday. Just having confirmation that my package was going to the right place with the right supporting documents was worth it. Definitely changed my mind about this service.

Don't forget to request a meeting with the Appeals Office if your reconsideration is denied! People think audit reconsideration is the last step, but it's not. Appeals can often find a middle ground even when reconsideration doesn't work out. I've been through this whole process twice with clients. Documentation is king - more is better than less. And organize chronologically within each disputed item category. Make the IRS agent's job as easy as possible to find what they need.

Anyone else had the experience where audit reconsideration took FOREVER? We submitted in Feb 2024 and still haven't heard anything. Is that normal??

One thing I learned from my reconsideration (approved last month!) is to include a table of contents and tab/label all supporting documents. My CPA made a cover page for each disputed item with a summary of why the original determination was incorrect and what documents were attached to support our position. Made it super easy for the reviewer to follow.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a tax professional who's handled about a dozen audit reconsiderations over the past few years, and I want to add one crucial point that I haven't seen mentioned yet. Always include a specific timeline in your reconsideration letter showing when events occurred and when documentation was created. The IRS needs to understand why certain information wasn't available during the original audit. For example, if bank statements were requested but the taxpayer's bank had a processing delay, or if medical records weren't released until after the audit closed - spell this out clearly. I also recommend including a brief "procedural history" section that summarizes what happened during the original audit, what was requested, what was provided, and what the final determination was. This helps the reconsideration reviewer understand the full context without having to dig through the original audit file extensively. One more tip: if you're dealing with multiple tax years, submit separate reconsideration requests for each year even if the issues are similar. The IRS processes these by tax year, and combining them can actually slow things down.